Welcome to DBSTalk

Welcome to DBSTalk. Our community covers all aspects of video delivery solutions including: Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS), Cable Television, and Internet Protocol Television (IPTV). We also have forums to discuss popular television programs, home theater equipment, and internet streaming service providers. Members of our community include experts who can help you solve technical problems, industry professionals, company representatives, and novices who are here to learn.

Like most online communities you must register to view or post in our community. Sign-up is a free and simple process that requires minimal information. Be a part of our community by signing in or creating an account. The Digital Bit Stream starts here!

I've seen a number of big cable co's and smaller cable co's and now today Dish Network all add IFC HD, WE HD, and FUSE HD at the same time as if they were some kind of package deal. They are all under the AMC Networks umbrella. I've even seen some cable operators where those 3 were on the same QAM frequency, and even some operators where they also squeeze in AMC HD (4 to a QAM).

I see we are getting IFC HD with DirecTV as it is in TEST mode... but what about the other two networks in that package (WE HD and FUSE HD)?

I really miss FUSE. I used to watch it 2 years ago when I had it in HD on Comcast. Now with DirecTV since the SD picture is vastly overcompressed, I usually just skip over it. If it came in HD I could enjoy it again. I just hope it happens before network decay sinks in and it turns into all reality television.

WE HD would be great also as the wife sometimes has that on from time to time. I'm glad she is getting LMN in HD soon. One more blurry mess I don't have to see her tuned into.

I know SR said more HD is to come even after this round. I sure hope now with the 6 channels per transponder encoding technology, along with Dan York at the negotiating end... we see more SD channels currently offered on DirecTV converted to better HD quality. I know LONG TERM there was an article where the goal was that everything would be in HD, and Ku would be re-purposed for 4K. That's years away... but there's A LOT OF SD on DirecTV, so you have to start somewhere.

Now who wants to place bets on when we will get updated channel logo's for these ads? I bet 60 days after they go 'live'.

Now who wants to place bets on when we will get updated channel logo's for these ads? I bet 60 days after they go 'live'.

The most important thing is having the channels in HD. I do not care if we ever get channel logos. I have never once decided to tune in a channel because it had a logo, and conversely, I have never failed to tune in a channel that had a show I wanted to watch because there was no logo. I watch the programs - not the channel information.

The most important thing is having the channels in HD. I do not care if we ever get channel logos. I have never once decided to tune in a channel because it had a logo, and conversely, I have never failed to tune in a channel that had a show I wanted to watch because there was no logo. I watch the programs - not the channel information.

While the logos are indeed of secondary importance...it would not be surprising to have them appear at the time the new channels are launched. It's happened before.

Well, Chang's been gone for seven months now, so we don't know how many might have been contracted since.

But, I'd generally agree that I've always felt it likely that D* has a pool of "HD licenses in their pocket" with which they have anywhere from some, to great, flexibility when they decide to exercise them based on infrastructure availability, priority, etc. Particularly with these smaller audience channels which don't have particularly great negotiating leverage to be making demands.

Derek left two weeks ago, not 7 months ago. His final day was January 3rd I believe. Very smart, good guy, was responsible for a tremendous amount of good for customers and D*.

Based on Chang's quotes, addional HD may have stopped being high on his agenda.

Sandra

Honestly, no. You can't just launch HD because you want to. Takes two to tango, both sides. Takes infrastructure, available bandwidth, money, etc, etc. It also has to be weighed vs what capacity will be used for....do you launch a channel that 0.5% of the base will watch or keep it for other services that generate revenue, etc. Those are just basic business decisions that have to be made. But Derek Chang was always a strong advocate for the customer, a very sound strategic person, all over HD and other things, some of which won't come to fruition for another few years but still has his fingerprints on them.

On the comments attributed to him, I think people are missing a lot of context there in my opinion. As stated, takes two to tango and at times a statement like that which mostly is only seen in the industry trades can be seen as a way to send a message. That's purely my opinion, but when you consider the context and what he has said constantly at DTV, HD is and always will be of major importance. That's why when I would read predictions that it was stopping or whatever, I would just shake my head.

D* is fortunate to have Dan York now as well...very competent person. As I've said for several years now, more HD is coming and will continue to come.

I've said for several years now, more HD is coming and will continue to come.

Thanks SatRacer.

I guess you couldn't comment if you wanted to on this... but any word on We HD and Fuse HD? I mean IFC HD is coming, AMC HD is already on the system.... The other two should all go together as a package deal.

Well you said more HD is coming so I can only hope (and it makes sense) that they will eventually come to complete that package distribution with AMC Networks.

Now only if Comcast would play nice with DirecTV. CSN Philly aside... Style HD and Oxygen HD. I'm going to move to Choice Xtra at the end of the week, which doesn't include Style for example. But bring it in HD and you'll make me move to Ultimate to get it. That's $6 more a month, or $72 a year because of moving a channel to HD. And I'm just ONE customer.

No matter how anyone wants to take the Chang quotes, the fact remains that directv has pretty consistently added HD throughout. The big argument for a while wasn't about the lack of HD additions but the lack of "basic" channels. But the overall HD count continued to grow.

Some of the challenges were technology and now with better compression they can add things more quickly. That didn't happen overnight. It had to be a year in the planning and making.

Honestly, no. You can't just launch HD because you want to. Takes two to tango, both sides. Takes infrastructure, available bandwidth, money, etc, etc. It also has to be weighed vs what capacity will be used for....do you launch a channel that 0.5% of the base will watch or keep it for other services that generate revenue, etc. Those are just basic business decisions that have to be made. But Derek Chang was always a strong advocate for the customer, a very sound strategic person, all over HD and other things, some of which won't come to fruition for another few years but still has his fingerprints on them.

On the comments attributed to him, I think people are missing a lot of context there in my opinion. As stated, takes two to tango and at times a statement like that which mostly is only seen in the industry trades can be seen as a way to send a message. That's purely my opinion, but when you consider the context and what he has said constantly at DTV, HD is and always will be of major importance. That's why when I would read predictions that it was stopping or whatever, I would just shake my head.

D* is fortunate to have Dan York now as well...very competent person. As I've said for several years now, more HD is coming and will continue to come.

Great info...thank you.

Is there any chance GolTV will return in HD, and return to the Sports Pack? It seems the tango partner is more than willing here, but for some reason DirecTV decided to drop this.

I guess you couldn't comment if you wanted to on this... but any word on We HD and Fuse HD? I mean IFC HD is coming, AMC HD is already on the system.... The other two should all go together as a package deal.

Well you said more HD is coming so I can only hope (and it makes sense) that they will eventually come to complete that package distribution with AMC Networks.

Now only if Comcast would play nice with DirecTV. CSN Philly aside... Style HD and Oxygen HD. I'm going to move to Choice Xtra at the end of the week, which doesn't include Style for example. But bring it in HD and you'll make me move to Ultimate to get it. That's $6 more a month, or $72 a year because of moving a channel to HD. And I'm just ONE customer.

Will this be grandfather or will it be like Clue was no longer available to us who were grandfather?

Wonder how IFC will look in HD here on D*.....at my bar we have IFC (via Time Warner) and it is a 720p pixelated mess..Kinda like the way ION's pic paints (on time warner) and has problems with dark colors..

Wonder how IFC will look in HD here on D*.....at my bar we have IFC (via Time Warner) and it is a 720p pixelated mess..Kinda like the way ION's pic paints (on time warner) and has problems with dark colors..

It is not super great on fios but it does not pixelate there. I'd expect DirecTV's PQ to be about equal to fios.

Wonder how IFC will look in HD here on D*.....at my bar we have IFC (via Time Warner) and it is a 720p pixelated mess..Kinda like the way ION's pic paints (on time warner) and has problems with dark colors..

IFCHD was added on DISH yesterday & it looks great. Only 1 problem...it didn't get rid of the commercials

CNN Headline News : ...ehh ok
The Cooking Channel : to those that want it...cheerio!
Lifetime Movie Channel : another PMS channel...great..hahaha
H2 : WELL DESERVED !!! bring it !!
Investigation Discovery : great add... BRING IT!!
TV Land :-->........other than their 1st run shows..are any of the classics in HD or pillar box stretch??
Encore Action : always good to add a premium that will have alot of its content defacto in HD..!!

Independent Film Channel : forgot they have commercials now..otherwise a semi good add